Where do I start. Just rented this sucker last night and I'm flabbergasted. First off - "Citizen Kane" it isn't. And, I've seen comparisons to the master, Stuart Gordon, and I think that's just madness. They got a long way before they make something as chilling and hilarious as "Re-Animator." That being said, I have no idea what that turkey was referring to in saying that this was another bad adaptation. I'll agree - almost every Lovecraft film bears little to no resemblance to the stories they've been adapted from. I'll also agree that Gordon is the primary offender on this, as Re-Animator & From Beyond are both wildly different than the Lovecraft originals.
But, this story is a really close adaptation. They took some liberties, to be sure, but mainly because the freakin' story is only FOUR PAGES LONG!!!!! Anyway, I'd like to know if people who say it's not a close adaptation have actually read the story or not???? Let's go through a few points...
The original story is about a mysterious mountain man that is put in an asylum, has a strange growth on his back, is experimented on with a weird, home-made, electrical machine by the narrator of the story who is an intern. The experiments result in the dream world being opened up before the narrator in the real world and an other-worldly entity coming forth. (That's the story as it was written by Lovecraft.) Let me say this very clearly: EVERYTHING I JUST DESCRIBED ABOVE ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE MOVIE ADAPTATION! For my money, this is a first for Lovecraft films, say what you want about the painful acting and uneven writing. This is a FAITHFUL ADAPTATION. No one can dispute it. Now, where they change the story is to take it from a heady sci-fi story about another world being revealed and turn it into a monster movie. But, what the hell are you gonna do? Monster movies make money and people watch Lovecraft films to see some blood and Gothic horror. Plus, the story is completely vague enough as to inspire that type of take on it.
I'm giving the film a higher rating than I probably should - only because I'm angered by the claims that it's not what it says that it is. If you want to make a valid criticism - read the story first. Otherwise, your just some goth poseur who's probably not even read much Lovecraft and claims to be an expert only because they read half of "Mountains of Madness" once but couldn't get through it because they couldn't find their freakin' dictionary.
Believe me, there's plenty to get angry about in this film - just not the quality of the adaptation. Hell, just make fun of the bad wig!!!! That's enough material to base a negative review on right there!
But, this story is a really close adaptation. They took some liberties, to be sure, but mainly because the freakin' story is only FOUR PAGES LONG!!!!! Anyway, I'd like to know if people who say it's not a close adaptation have actually read the story or not???? Let's go through a few points...
The original story is about a mysterious mountain man that is put in an asylum, has a strange growth on his back, is experimented on with a weird, home-made, electrical machine by the narrator of the story who is an intern. The experiments result in the dream world being opened up before the narrator in the real world and an other-worldly entity coming forth. (That's the story as it was written by Lovecraft.) Let me say this very clearly: EVERYTHING I JUST DESCRIBED ABOVE ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE MOVIE ADAPTATION! For my money, this is a first for Lovecraft films, say what you want about the painful acting and uneven writing. This is a FAITHFUL ADAPTATION. No one can dispute it. Now, where they change the story is to take it from a heady sci-fi story about another world being revealed and turn it into a monster movie. But, what the hell are you gonna do? Monster movies make money and people watch Lovecraft films to see some blood and Gothic horror. Plus, the story is completely vague enough as to inspire that type of take on it.
I'm giving the film a higher rating than I probably should - only because I'm angered by the claims that it's not what it says that it is. If you want to make a valid criticism - read the story first. Otherwise, your just some goth poseur who's probably not even read much Lovecraft and claims to be an expert only because they read half of "Mountains of Madness" once but couldn't get through it because they couldn't find their freakin' dictionary.
Believe me, there's plenty to get angry about in this film - just not the quality of the adaptation. Hell, just make fun of the bad wig!!!! That's enough material to base a negative review on right there!